Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-11

odist church, appointed by the famous mission
ory Bishop Asbury. Aitor his removal TO Chill
licothe ho frequently stopped to preach when h,
| visited distant settlements TO engage in tn,
practice OF medicine. Filling 80 many want,
and meeting, rs no did, so thoroughly all OF tn,
current demands OF the people and tho time,
| for physical relief. religious solaco and oduca
tional and social enlightenment, IL Is moi
strange that ne became without opposition q
leader among mon.
Governor Timn died ut Chlllcothe on the
9th of August, 1920. His grave is marked by
| n marble monument, but the important work
| OF this remarkable man is impcrishably woven
into the history OF the great State that he did
SO much for.
Another flustrious Governor of Ohio who
sleeps in the Chilicothe cemetery was Thomas
Worthington, who came to Ohio from Virginia
with Edward Tinin.
Worthington's parents were wealthy, and
gave the future Governor q liberal education.
At the age of twenty-one he became the posses
sor of fine Inheritance OF roal estate and
slaves, In 1917 he removed to Chillicothe, after
having disposed Of most OF his slaves by manu-
mission. He purchased on the banks OF Paint
creek n large tract OF land, and erected upon II
tho first frame house in the village. Later he
built n snw-mill, the first over erected in the
valley OF the Scioto, and in n short time his
laborcrs, many OF whom were former slaves,
were settled In comfortable houses.
Mr.. Worthington developed an uncommon
amount OF energy for man born TO his com.
Portable condition in life, and he soon became
very popular In the new settlement. Ofilcos OF
responsibility wcro offered to him, and he be.
came an assistant surveyor ofpublc lands, q
member of the Constitutional Convention and
Senator OF the United States. In the first Ter
ritorial Legislature he represented Ross Coun'
ty. Mr.. Worthington opposed the scheme 10
make two States out OF Ohio, and he was so
strong in his opposition that Congress was in
duCed to set aside the view OF the majority OF
the Territorial Legislature and the judgement
of Governor st. Clair and nm enabling act wa.
passed April 80, 1901, by which Ohio, with 1t,
present boundaries became State.
Thomas Worthington is responsible in large
degree for the slight power that is vested In the
Chief Executive of Ohio. He afterwards OK.
pressed regret that the Governor was so re.
stricted but there was feeling at the time the
constitution was adopted that Governor st,
Clair had too much power, ard 1t was deter
mined to curtail the authority OF his successors,
Thomas Worthington was in the U. s. Senate
two terms OF five years each, and introduced
the bill providing for the SURVEY OF the National
road from Cumberland to st, Louis, for the di
vision and sale Of public lands in quarter sec
tions instead of tracts two miles sQuare-thu,
stimulating immigration.
During the interval between his terms OF ser
vice in the U. s. Senate, Governor WorthingtoI
was engaged in the negotiation of treaties with
the Indians, and he reached high place in the
esteem of Tecumseh and other leaders.
In 1914 Thomas Worthington was elected Gov
ernor, and in 1916 he was reelected. Whcr
Governor Worthington was first made Chic
Executive of Ohio, he was u. S. Senator
While Governor of Ohio Thomas Worthingtor
did great deal to advance the educational in
tcrests of the State and to urge the establish
mcnt of colleges and public schools The State
library owes its inception to him, and the first
books for its use were purchased by him out Of
tho Governors contingent fund. Governor
Worthington recommended the construction
of canals, and in 1922, rs q member of the
Legislature, he was appointed on the first com
mittee that reported in favor of the construo
tion of State waterways, and 1t was while IN
New York City, where he had gone to attends
meeting of this committee, that he died, June
90 1897. He was designated by the National In
teiiigencer, 1.-THE father of the American system
of public improvements"
Chief Justice Chase, in his historical sketch
that prefaces the Ohio Statutes, describe,
Thomas Worthington US n gentleman of distin
guished ability and great influence.
In 1906 Governor Worthington erected what
was then the handsomest and most elegant resi-
dence in the West. He called his home Adena
and 1t is situated on commanding elevation
overlooking the pleasant valley and corn.feldi
of the Scioto.
A view of Adena may be had from the cars b,
one approaching Chillicothe from the west
The house is Of stone, and the metal used IL
its construction and ornamentation was brought
from Philadelphia. The mansion is occupied b,
the defendants of Governor Worthington, {
grandson of whom has recently been appointed
to place in the Patent Oflice at Washington.
The name Adcnu signifies paradise" and thu
place was looked upon as u sort of Eden in the
days of the original owner.
Latrobe, the architect, of Washington City
was the architect for Adena from which place
the worlmen came. The glass came from tn,
works of Albert Gallat Geneva, Pa
Nearly all of the disting ID men of thi,
country and visitors from AZ. lad who came tt
Ohio during the life of Governor worthingtor